Sorry I've been so absent this week. I'm terrible at keeping up with the chatty thread, so I've just been lurking. I've also gotten sucked into a few work projects this week, so have been surprisingly busy (for someone who lays on the couch all day, that is). Today we have a NST/BPP and then Dr's appointment -- big excitement. Then ... back to the couch until another NST on Saturday. I can't believe I'm almost to 35 weeks. Having not expected to make it to 32, I'm still in a fair amount of disbelief.

Anna - I hear you, I wish I were further along also. My OB said she was thinking about pushing my due date up a week...40 wks from start of last period would be 5/16, but bc I didn't have a full cycle, she went more by the first u/s and put my due date at 6/5. We've been measuring ahead the whole time, and I would love to suddenly be one week further along...but my peri said he doesn't really do that. Who knows.

Welcome Ashley! Trying to tend to other kids while on bedrest is very difficult....especially when you have a toddler. I am lucky in a way that my DS is almost 6 because he is able to be helpful. Although he still misses doing all the "normal" things with me and it's hard not to let the mommy guilt kick in. Try to get as much help as you can and realize that this is only temporary. Hang in there!

Cheryl-I feel the exact same way. My doctors never discussed making it past 32 weeks so I'm also just stunned that I will soon be 35 weeks soon as well. It doesn't seem possible! Not that I'm complaining....at this point I want to make it to scheduled delivery date if I have to hang upside down and duct tape my legs together. Only a little over 2 1/2 weeks for us both!

Janie-I think I'm actually a little further along than the u/s said but since my baby has been on the small side, they decided to stick with the u/s date. Regardless I will be delivering at what the u/s says is 37 weeks 2 days so if he does end up being a little "older" than we thought, I figure it will only benefit him. Sorry the house tour only had one person. That stinks!

AFM: I will post my appointment update on the appointment thread but besides appointments it has been a very productive day. I got to meet with the L&D supervisor and the Nursery&Mother/Baby supervisor and I feel like I finally got somewhere. They both agree that anesthesiology is probably the one putting a kink in the delivery plan so they are going to go to bat for me and unless anesthesiology can give them a rational, medical reason for making me jump through so many hoops, they are going to fight to let me deliver in the L&D OR with DH there. They also hope that I will be able to recover on L&D but admit that they might not win that battle so hopefully all of this stress will be resolved soon! It feels like a huge weight is lifting and I can finally start to get excited and maybe relax.

Welcome Gayla and PJ! Oh, and Ashley (and congrats on 30w!) wow - lots of new people this week! And here I thought I was the only new one...

I agree with those of you have said that it almost gets easier the longer you're on bedrest. Even though I am only 18w3d this is my 6th week of bedrest...and strangely enough it is getting easier.

Kelly - congrats on making 30!!!!!!!!! I totally uderstand your feelings about your paper. I am also in school and have a paper to write and I cant seem to get into it! TV and websurfing are just so much more appealing (brainless activities!)

Anna - my DH fixes up a plate of leftovers, ready for me to stick in the microwave. I also get it when I am getting up anyways to go to the bathroom. I seem to go every 45 min or so anywyas, so it's not hard to coordinate! My DH also leaves me lots of snacks on the coffee table (I spend the day on the couch, rather than bed). But generally, I find that since I have been on bedrest I dont get that hungry. I guess its cuz I'm not burning any calories.

Sorry - I dont know anything about blood pressure monitors. I have also had low blood pressure and getting headaches/dizzy when I get up. On Sun - I almost fainted! The scariest thing was that my hearing went. I thought I was going to be hearing impaired forever (I was scared and irrational) but everything's fine now. Doc just told me to get up really slowly.

Has anyone else gotten little pains in their feet when they get up to the bathroom. I totally feel like my body is no longer capable of being up like a normal person! A couple of weeks ago I was getting a little pain in my right heel but it went away. This week I am getting a pain over my ankle bone on the inside of my left foot and it kind of radiates down to the bottom of my foot. It comes back whenever I put weight on it...but that one spot on the bone is always tender to the touch...I am totally paranoid that I might get a blood clot or something...but I'm probably just "rusty from lack of use". My legs aren't swollen at all. Oh, well. I am certainly not going to call the doc over every little twinge!!

i too feel like my body is not capable of functioning normally, i hurt all over and am so weak muscle wise from being down..of course i was pretty setiment with my first pregnancy, was in a car accident 6 weeks postpartum, and then now with this pregnancy, i wonder if i will ever be able to lift my arm without my muscles burning

Tamara-I would be more concerned about a clot if it was in your calf, behind your knee, or in your thigh or groin. However, if it is red or warm to the touch, you'd definitely want to let your doctor know ASAP. And regardless, I would probably bring it up at the next appointment. It could be something as simple as the fact that lying on your side (which we all spend countless hours a day doing) is pinching a nerve or something like that. After 7 months on bedrest my body definitely gets achy. I'm lucky enough that my DH is pretty good at massage and I can usually convince him to give me one at least once a week.